The Experience

Over the centuries, the island of Sicily was colonized by the Greeks, Romans, Byzantines, Muslims, Normans and assorted others before becoming part of Spain, then the Bourbon Kingdom, and finally part of Italy. Discover the cultural footprints all these conquerors left behind on the comprehensive Sicily tour. Vestiges of the ancient Greeks and Romans entice in Segesta, Agrigento and Taormina… the presence of the Normans lingers in Palermo and Monreale… a distinctive style of Sicilian architecture began in the Baroque Valley centuries ago and flourishes today… Byzantine and Arab art mingle with Italian influences… the culture peculiar to the Mafia is revealed in Corleone. Watch the crafting of Majolica pottery… taste impressive wines from grapes grown in volcanic soil… sample traditional chocolate… and have dinner with a Sicilian principessa in her 14th-century palazzo, all for a taste of the authentic Sicily. There’s something old and new around every bend on this memorable Sicily tour.

VIEW THE ITINERARY

Day 1 Benvenuti a Palermo Tauck’s Sicily tour begins at 6:00 PM at the Grand Hotel Wagner. A transfer from the Palermo Airport to Grand Hotel Wagner, located in the city’s historic medieval heart, is included. Join us this evening for a welcome reception at the hotel followed by your first true taste of Sicilian culture and cuisine during dinner at a local restaurant. Lodging Grand Hotel Wagner Meals : D Day 2 Sicily’s Norman heritage in Monreale and Palermo This morning, your Sicily tour begins with a scenic drive to Segesta, where you’ll immediately understand why the builders of the Doric Temple of Segesta chose this spot. Commanding views from the hilltop site of the temple, and the engineering skills and artistry of the ancient Elymians who built it – or at least partially built it, because it was never completed, but is remarkably preserved today – combine to make this a memorable place. Move forward in time in Erice, set on the top of Mount Erice, as you explore winding streets lined with examples of Gothic, Baroque and Renaissance architecture. Enjoy another taste of Sicily in the form of the “abbey sweets” made by Maria Grammatico when you visit her workshop. This evening, it’s time to dress up as La Principessa di Raffadali requests the pleasure of your company at her 14th-century home, Palazzo Raffadali, for a tour and a dinner that she will host… it’s an exclusive experience for Tauck’s guests only (and proper attire required, including jackets for the gentlemen – no jeans or shorts tonight)! Lodging Grand Hotel Wagner Meals :B,L Day 3 This morning, your Sicily tour begins with a scenic drive to Segesta, where you’ll immediately understand why the builders of the Doric Temple of Segesta chose this spot. Commanding views from the hilltop site of the temple, and the engineering skills and artistry of the ancient Elymians who built it – or at least partially built it, because it was never completed, but is remarkably preserved today – combine to make this a memorable place. Move forward in time in Erice, set on the top of Mount Erice, as you explore winding streets lined with examples of Gothic, Baroque and Renaissance architecture. Enjoy another taste of Sicily in the form of the “abbey sweets” made by Maria Grammatico when you visit her workshop. This evening, it’s time to dress up as La Principessa di Raffadali requests the pleasure of your company at her 14th-century home, Palazzo Raffadali, for a tour and a dinner that she will host… it’s an exclusive experience for Tauck’s guests only (and proper attire required, including jackets for the gentlemen – no jeans or shorts tonight)! Lodging Grand Hotel Wagner Meals :B,D Day 4 Today your Sicily tour takes you along the Yellow Roads past grape orchards and groves of olives and prickly pears to the town of Corleone, a name made famous by The Godfather and its tale of organized crime in Sicily and the U.S. As the town has been home to some pretty notorious Mafia types, both real and fictional, it seems fitting that it is now the home of The International Centre of Documentation Regarding Mafia and Anti-Mafia Movement (CIDMA), a non-profit organization dedicated to promoting study of the Mafia, researching legal ways to undermine the Mob’s efforts, and raising public awareness. A visit to CIDMA reveals much about these crime families and their various enterprises. A more benign and friendly family business, the Principe di Corleone winery is the site of a tour and tasting of locally produced reds and whites, followed by a typical Sicilian lunch. Continue this afternoon to your spa resort in Sciacca. Lodging Verdura Golf & Spa Resort Meals :B,L,D Day 5 The Valley of the Temples at Agrigento must have been the favorite neighborhood of the gods if the number of temples there is any indication. Explore temples honoring deities the likes of Zeus, Hercules, Concord, Pollux and Castor in this amazing archaeological site with a local guide; see the Tomb of Theron, reputed to be the Greek tyrant of Agrigento, and the Porta Aurea. After lunch featuring views of the temples, your Sicily tour continues on to the hill town of Caltagirone for a look at a centuries-old craft successfully making it in the modern world while still using traditional techniques… and closely guarded secrets passed down through the generations. Watch as local artisans create the exquisite, hand-decorated Majolica pottery known and loved the world over. Arrive early evening in Ragusa for an overnight stay. Lodging Poggio del Sole Resort Meals :B,L,D Day 6 A UNESCO World Heritage Site, the area of Sicily known as the Baroque Valley suffered a cataclysmic earthquake in 1693 that destroyed local villages including Modica and Noto. Not wanting to tempt fate, the residents decided to move the towns to a safer location and rebuilt them in a style that came to be known as Sicilian Baroque, marked by a unique flamboyance and use of elaborate decorative embellishments. This style contributes much to Sicily’s architectural character and soul, as you’ll discover on visits to both Modica and Noto today. Making chocolate with a recipe and technique that early Spanish explorers learned from the Aztecs is a cultural treasure in Modica; visit a chocolate shop founded in 1880 to see how it’s still done in the traditional way. After entering the Sicilian Baroque town of Noto through the Porto Reale, see the Basilica di San Salvatore and the Duomo San Niccolo along the Corso Vittorio Emmanuele on a guided tour. This afternoon, your Sicily tour continues to Siracusa for a two-night stay. Lodging Des Etrangers Hotel & SPA Meals :B,D Day 7 Join Tauck’s local expert for a visit to the Neapolis Archaeological Park to discover some of the treasures the ancient Greeks – and then the Romans – left behind in Siracusa. Explore the 16,000-seat Greek theatre, one of the largest of its kind in the world and still in use today; and the 3rd-century Roman amphitheatre, once used for the same sort of “entertainment” featured at Rome’s Colosseum. At the Orecchio di Dioniso, or Ear of Dionysius, listen carefully to see if you can hear what the tyrant emperor heard as he took advantage of the cave’s excellent acoustics to eavesdrop on prisoners. Enjoy lunch at the Palazzo of Barone Pietro di Beneventano, a Baroque townhouse, with a tasting of his family’s wines. Enjoy dinner on your own tonight in Siracusa. Lodging Des Etrangers Hotel & SPA Meals :B,L Day 8 Thought to be the home of Vulcan, the god of fire, by the ancient Greeks, Mt. Etna – one of the world’s most active volcanoes – dominates the scenery in the northeast corner of Sicily, and during its frequent eruptions it can put on quite a show. See it this morning on Tauck’s Sicily tour after an early start from Siracusa to try to beat the clouds that sometimes mask the mountain. Take a tour, taste the prestigious wines from grapes grown in the volcanic soil and enjoy lunch featuring the authentic flavors of Sicily at a local winery. Continue on to a two-night stay in seaside Taormina, for another view of Mt. Etna. Your Tauck Director can provide suggestions for dinner on your own this evening in Taormina. Lodging San Domenico Palace Hotel Meals :B,L Day 9 It was J. W. Goethe who described lovely Taormina as a “patch of paradise,” and the Sicels, Greeks, Romans, Byzantines, Saracens, Arabs, Normans and Spaniards who chose to live here over the centuries obviously agreed with him – and each left their own stamp on its landscapes and its culture. From its cliff-top perch, the town looks down over two sparkling bays and out at views of the ever-present Mt. Etna as well, making it hard to imagine a more perfect spot. Starting in the town’s historic center, a walk through Taormina with a local guide reveals relics of its Greek and Roman past, and includes a stroll along the Corso Umberto; end at the spectacular Teatro Greco, originally built by the Greeks about 3 BC and later remodeled by the Romans. Spend the rest of the day as you please, and enjoy lunch on your own. This evening, please join us for our farewell reception and dinner on the terrace of your hotel (weather permitting), where sweeping views of the sea and Mt. Etna are a fitting tribute to Tauck’s compelling Sicily tour. Lodging San Domenico Palace Hotel Meals :B,D Day 10 Fly home anytime. Memorable Sicily tour ends in Taormina with an included transfer from the San Domenico Palace Hotel to Catania Airport to begin your journey home. Please allow three hours for flight check-in. Meals :B

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Sicily: Culture Through the Ages

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